Fitting for chairs or the like



I R. K. DAWSON- FITTING FOR CHAIRS OR 'THE LIKE Filed April 7.- 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 19,1926. 1,570,435.

R. K DAw$0.N Frr'nuer'r'on cums 0h m 1.1K:

' Filed April 7. 1924 2 Shasta-Shoot z NV? W Fig.4

- To dll vko'n t' it may concern: I 7 Be it known that 1, ROBERT K. Dawson, a

Patented Jan. 19, 1926 1 NHTED- STATES OFFICE.

ROBERT K. DAWSON, OF AKRON, NEW Yonx.

FITTING m CHAIR/S1103,- THE LIKE.

Application filed April 7,

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Akron, in the county of Erle'and State of New York, have invented a ne-Wand I useful Improvement in Fittings for Chairs .fication.

or the like, of which the following is a speci- This invention relates to fittings for chairs or analogous articles which are adaptedjto support the seatof the chair on the usual spindle, and also to support: chair, ifone is used. I I

Tl1e objects of this invention are to provide a fitting of this kind with a seat-supthe back of the I; porting member or spider of improved. conence to the seat; also to improve-the .con-

struction of fittings for chairs of this" kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

,In. the accompanying drawings I v. V Fig. 1 is a top plan view of-a chair fitting embodying my invention. r I Fig. 2 's a fragmentary sectional elevation tl1ereof;on.linef22, Fig. 1.. f. Fig. 3; is a perspective view of a plvot member of the back tilting mechanism. Fig. tis a rear view of the adjusting member of the back tilting mecnamsm.

Fig. 5 is .a longitudinal, central, sectional elevation of a chair fitting embodying my invention, showing a chair seat applied thereto, and; also a part of a chair back arranged in operative relation thereto. 7 s Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof on, an enlarged scale on line 6- 6, Fig.5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentaryperspective View showing the connection between the :two. cross members o f the seat-supporting spider. Fig. 8'is aperspective view of the adjusting member to which the lower end of the back post of the chair is secured. Fig. 9 is afragmentary sectional elevation on an enlarged scale on line 9-9, Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 isa fragmentary sectional elevation on. an enlarged scale on line 10510,

1924; Seria1 No. 704,624.

. Theinvention is shown in-the accompany.-

ing-.Qdrawings as embodied in a fitting adapted for: use in connection with typewrite ri c l1airs,.1butit will be'obvious' that partsof my invention may be used in connection with chairs of other kinds.

The seat-supporting spider of my .im-

. proved chairfitting includes a. pair of cross members A; and-IB, which in the preferredembodiment of the invention shown in the draw ngs, are substantially of channel or U- A shaped cross section. The sides or flanges of the transversely extending member A ex? i tend downwardly, and the sides 1 or flanges of the. forwardly and rearwardlv extending member B'extend upwardly, and at the in,- tersection of these. v two channel-shaped cross members,they-are provided withholes arranged :in vertical alinementv through ,wliich the upper end of the screw-stem .or spindle C of the chair extends, thisiupper.

part 0 being preferably-ofreduced diameter,

thusforming a shoulder against which the cross member} B rests, and the. upjper portion ofthe reduced ipart c of the stem-or spindle C 1s preferablyupset or rivetedover against the horizontal face of -the other cross memher A so that .thetwo cross members are securely held in .engagement with each other ofithe cross members; A and B are secured to the seat, D in any suitable or usu'al means, these cross members being sof bent that the ends thereofextend upwardlyabove the 111+ tersecting middle portion,

flanges thereof, the following construction is preferably e l V I v The cross member B provided with the up- I wardly extending side'flanges is providedat the pomtsof intersection of the downwardly extendlngyfianges of they cross member A withjshallow recesses or notches 6 into which theside flanges of the member A are adapted; to enter, andthe downwardly extending side flanges of the member A are provided with notches or recesses a-extending throughout the greater portion ofthe depth of the side flanges. By means ofythese. cooperating notches or recesses 1n the vert cal flanges of the two 'cross'men bers, the two members can bel n'este d: or interlocked as shown in Figs. .2,

85 by'means, of the spindle C.v The outerfends 5 and 7, without materially decreasingthe strength of these two members. The upwardly extending side flanges of the member B are so arranged that when a downwardly acting weight is applied to the seat D, the upper edges of these flanges are in tension, and since these upper edges are only slightly notched by means of the depressions or notches 6, their strength is practically unimpaired. The lower portions of the downwardly extending flanges of the cross member A on the other hand are in compression when weight is placed upon the seat D, and consequently, their strength is not impaired by the notches or slots extending almost throughout the length of the downwardly extending flanges for the reason that these notches are filled by the upwardly extending flanges of the member B, so that the action of the downwardly extending flanges, when subjected to compression, is not in any way changed by the notches a.

A suitable reinforcing or compression member, such as a sleeve or short tube C is preferably placed around the reduced upper end 0 of the chair spindle C and between the horizontal flanges of the two cross members, so that the bending or deformation of the cross members by the shoulder and the riveted end of the spider is prevented, when the spider is subjected to strains.

If the chair fitting is to be used in connection with a tilting back pivoted to the chair seat spider, this can be done by pivotally mounting a pivoted member E on a part of the chair fitting, for example, by providing holes in the upwardly extending flanges of the longitudinal cross member Bthrough which a pivot pine may extend, the ends of which extend through holes in the pivoted member E, these holes being preferably formed in upright flanges or parts c of the pivot member E, which are connected at their front ends by means of a stop or bridge member 6 The rear end of the pivoted member E is preferably provided with a bearing lug or projection a through which a pivot pin f extends, which is connected with hearing lugs f formed on a back supporting member F on which the back post G of the chair back is suitably secured.

In order to hold the back post G in a substantially upright position, a spring is commonly employed which acts on the pivoted member E. In constructions heretofore employed, one or more coil springs were used for this purpose, which had to be secured to the pivot member 'at a considerable di tance above the pivot e in order to obtain the necessary fulcrum for offering the desired resistance to the rearward movement of the back post'G. These coil springs, in addition to having the disadvantages of requiringconsiderable room vertically, also necessitated the use of certain relatively movable parts which were noisy and caused squeaks which were ditficult to eliminate, and which involved a .considerable amount of friction, so that the action of the spring on the chair back was not uniform. In order to avoid the objection to the use of coil springs, the following construction is preferably employed A pair of spring rods or springs H is provided, the front ends of which are secured in any suitable or desired manner in the ends of a yoke member I arranged adjacent adjacent to the forwardly extending part of the cross member B. The other ends of the spring wires or rods H are preferably hooked under cars or lugs it formed on the pivoted member E and extending outwardly from opposite sides of the vertical flanges or parts 6 of the pivoted member E, and the intermediate portions of the spring rods or members H are preferably provided with loops which extend around the cross bar A of the spider. The two looped portions of the spring rods or bars are preferably so arranged that each contacts only at one point on the cross member A, for example, in the construction shown, these spring bars or wires contact only on the upper rear edge or corner of the cross member A. From this construction it will be seen that the pivoted member E, in order to swing downwardly about the pivot a must do so against the action of the spring rods or wires H, and by adjusting the yoke I at the other end of the spring rods vertically, the pressure which the spring rods exert against the lugs hof the pivot member E may be regulated as desired. By means of this spring arrangement, all longitudinal bearings are eliminated, and consequently the squeakscresulting from these bearings are also eliminated. It will be noted that swinging of the pivoted member E about its pivot produces practically no movement of the springs relatively to the lugs it since the lugs h and the rear ends of the spring rods swing about pivots located in close proximity to each other. The springs arranged as described offer a smooth and uniform resistance to the rearward tilting of the chair back, since each spring engages the spider at only one point so that there is no friction or binding action between the spring and any other part of the chair fitting. Also the construction described makes it possible to pivot the member E in close proximity to the seat, so that the chair fitting requires considerably less material and is consequently lighter in weight, without any sacrifice of strength. The cross or bridge member 6' is adapted to engage the cross member B to limit the extent to which the back can be swung rearwardly-against the action of the spring rods H, and stop lugs 6 limit the extent 'to'wliic'h the spring rods swing the back forwardly.

The yoke member I is preferably adjustable vertically 'by' any suitable means, such for example as an adjusting screw having athreaded engagement with a central hole in the yoke member I, the lower end 'of the screw 11 being provided with a head z"- by,

means of which the adjusting screw-can be readily turned. The upper end of-thenada justing screw bears against a socketor depresslon formed -l11 the cross member: Any other means for changing the tension of the spring rods may be employed, if desired. 4

The back supporting member F is pro-- vided with an upwardly extending partK having flanges at the sides thereof between which the back post G is held, and-the upright portion Kis preferably provided with a longitudinal slot 7a through which a bolt L may extend, the bolt also extending through a hole in the lower portion of the back post G, and a nut Z may be used'for se curing the bolt L in any desired positionin" the slot 70, and thus securing the desired vertical adjustment of the back post G. This construction is particularly desirable forithe' reason that it eliminates the usual, longitudinal slot in the back post G, which is more difiicult to make than the slot is in the ad justing member, and which alsoweakens the back post. 7

It is also desirable to provide an adjustment whereby the back ,post may be moved forwardly or rearwardly with referenceto For this purpose the back supporting member F is, in the construction the chair seat.

shown, provided with a substantially horizontal, forwardlyfprojecting extension M at the lower portionthereof. At the front end of this extension is providedfan adjusting screw m having a head end m and adapted to engage the pivot member E. A'pairof springs N is preferably provided for normally holding the adjusting member F in a position in which the adjustingscrew m engages the pivoted member E. Consequently, by turning the adjusting screw, the back of the chair back may be moved forwardly or rearwardly with reference to the seat thereof. The back post adjustment described is tlIOF-T oughly reliable and positive in its action, and can be readily varied by merely turning, the screw m, and without changing thelposition of the back post relatively to theback sup{ porting member F.

I claim as my invention 1. A spider forchairseats pair of crossed members each of'which has a substantially horizontal flange fand i a 5 sub-f stantially vertically extending reinforcing flange, one of said members being arranged with its reinforcing flange extending up wardly and the other member being arranged with its reinforcing flange extending downwardly, said downwardly extending.

flange being slotted to receive said-upwardlyeX'te-nding flange, whcr'eby the slot in said wdownward'ly extendingflange isclosed by said upwardly extendingiflange and leaves the strength of said/downwardly extending,

' ranged with its reinforcing flange extending downwardly, said downwardly extending flange being slotted to receive said upwardly extending flange, and a notclrin said up wardly extending flange adapted to receive a part of said downwardly extendingflange, 4

whereby said members are held against lateral displacement relatively to each other;

Y3J-YA spider for chair seats including a pair of crossed members of channel shaped cross section, one of said members being arranged with its flanges extendingxupwardwith its flanges extending downwardly-,'said downwardly extending flanges being slotted to receive said upwardly extending flanges, wherebythe strength of said down wardly extending flanges to resist compres:

sion is unimpaired;

9O and the other member being arranged;

41A spider for chairseats including pair ofcrossed members :of channel shaped cross section, one of saldimembers bei-ng'arranged with--itsflanges extending upwardly and the other member-being arranged with itsflanges extending downwardly; said up=' wardly; extending 'flanges being provided with notches to receive parts of said downwardly extending flanges 7 A- spider for chair seats including a pair ofcrossed members of channel shaped cross SGCtlOIl, one of said members being arranged with its flanges extending upwardly and theother member being arranged with it flanges extending downwardly, alined recesses in the flanges of each member into which the flanges of the other member enter! to secure said members in fixedrelation to each other, and-means for securing said,

members in their interlocked positions; I

6. A splder for chair seats includinga pair ofcrossed'members of channel, shaped cross ,section,one of sa-id members-being. arranged including al "other member belngarra-nged'with itsflanges with its flanges vextending upwardly and the extending downwardly, alined recesses in the flanges'of each member, into which the I flanges of the other member enterito. secure said members in fixed relation .to each other,

and a central seat-supportingspindle, the 7 upper. endqofwhich passes through said members at ,tlieclll'llGISGCtlOll thereof and securessaid-memberstogether.

and the front end of which is pivoted to said longitudinal part in rear of said trans- 7. A fitting for chairs including a spider having a longitudinal part which is secured to the lower face of the chair seat and which extends downwardly therefrom, a transversely extending member connected with the lower portions of said longitudinal part, a rigid member which carries the chair back verse member and adjacent to the seat, and a spring rod having a coil in the intermediate portion thereof surrounding said transversely extending member and having its rear end engaging and exerting upward pressure on said pivoted member in rear of'the pivot thereof, and adjusting means at the front endof said spring rod for varying the pressure exerted by said spring rod on said pivoted member.

8. A fitting for chairs including a spider having a longitudinal part which is secured to the lower face of the chair seat and which extends downwardly therefrom, a transversely extending member connected with the lower portions of said longitudinal part, a rigid member which carries the chair back and the front end of which is pivoted to said longitudinal part in rear of said transverse member, a spring rod having a coil in the intermediateportionthereof surrounding said transversely extending member and engaging said transversely extending member at one point only, said point of contact being arranged in proximity to the pivotal connection between said spider and said pivoted member, said spring rod having its rear end engaging said pivoted member in rear of the pivo thereof and exerting upward pressure on said pivoted member, the front end of said rod extending toward the front of the chair spider, and adjusting means at the front end of said spring rod for varying the pressure exerted by said spring rod on said pivoted member.

9. A fitting for chairs and the like including a chair supporting spider having a transversely extending member, a member which carries said chair back and which is pivoted on said spider, and a spring rod arranged below said chairseat and having its front end adjustable with. reference to the chair seat andv extending rearwardly and engaging said transverse member at the upper rear portion thereof and bent into a coil which extends around said transverse memher out of contact therewith, said coil terminating in a rearwardly extending-portion and which engages said chair back carrying member.

10. A fitting for chairs and the like including a back supporting part pivoted at its front end on the chair, a member to which the back post may be secured and which is pivotally connected to the rear end of said part, a bracket extending forwardly from the lower part of saidlme'mber, anvadjusting screw on said bracket and adapted to engage said part for swinging said member about its pivotal connection with said part, and a spring acting on said member and said part for normally holding said adjusting screw in engagement with said part. 1

11. A spider for chair seats including a pair of crossed members of channel shaped cross seetion, one of said members being arranged with its flanges extending upwardly and -the other member being arranged with its flanges extending downwardly, .alined recesses in the flanges of each member into which the flanges of the other member enter to secure said members in fixed relation to each other, a central chair supporting spindle having a reduced upper end extending through said members at the intersection thereof, the upper end of said spindle being riveted against the upper of said cross members and the juncture of. said reduced end with said spindle forming a shoulder on which said lower crossed member rests, and a reinforcing spacing sleeve surrounding said reduced end of said spindle and interposed between said crossed members to prevent distortion thereof when said spider is subjected to' strains.

12. A spider for chair seats including a pair of crossed members of channel shaped cross section, one of said members being arranged with its flanges extending upwardly and the other member being arranged with its flanges extending downwardly, alined recesses in the flanges of each member into which the flangesof the other member enter to secure said members in fixed relation to each other, a central chair supporting spindle, the upper end of which passes through said members at the intersection thereof and which has an 2L1111Lllt1-1SllOtll(l81 on which the lower of saidcrossed members rests, means on said spindle engaging the upper of said crossed members to secure said crossed members together, and a compression member arranged between said crossed members and about the portion of said spindle which extends between said crossed members to prevent deformation of said crossed members.

ROBERT K. DAWSON. 

